Planes Grounded In Afghanistan: The Six Aircraft Left Behind

In September 2021, Republican Representative Michael McCaul of Texas claimed that the Taliban was holding six planes with American citizens on board hostage at Mazar-i-Sharif International Airport in Afghanistan. The Taliban was allegedly blocking the planes from leaving the country until its demands were met. Satellite images from Maxar Technologies showed six planes on the tarmac at the airport in Mazar-i-Sharif, north of Kabul, Afghanistan. Around 1,000 people, including 19 American citizens, two green card holders, and Afghan interpreters, were stuck in Afghanistan awaiting clearance for departure. The State Department said that the U.S. is prepared to help all remaining U.S. citizens, green card holders, and at-risk Afghans who want to leave.

The Taliban is holding the planes and passengers hostage until demands are met

In September 2021, Republican Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas claimed that the Taliban was holding six planes and their passengers hostage at Mazar-i-Sharif International Airport in Afghanistan. The passengers included American citizens, green card holders, and Afghan interpreters, and had been waiting for several days to receive clearance for departure.

McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, stated that the Taliban was "holding them hostage for demands" and would not let the planes leave until their demands were met. He suggested that these demands could be in the form of "cash or legitimacy as the government of Afghanistan."

A State Department official, however, stated that the U.S. discourages chartered airplanes as they no longer have personnel on the ground in Afghanistan to confirm the planes' passenger manifests. They also emphasized that the U.S. is prepared to help all remaining U.S. citizens, green card holders, and at-risk Afghans who want to leave the country.

The situation reflects the challenges faced by foreign governments in negotiating with the Taliban, which had recently taken control of Afghanistan and was in the process of forming a new government. The Taliban's seizure of the Panjshir Valley marked their takeover of the last province in the country where resistance forces had held ground.

The Taliban's blocking of the planes and their passengers highlights the precarious and dangerous situation faced by those attempting to leave Afghanistan, underscoring the urgency of meeting the Taliban's demands and facilitating the safe departure of those stranded.

The passengers include US citizens, green card holders, journalists, and women at risk

In 2021, the Taliban prevented six planes carrying American citizens from leaving Mazar-i-Sharif airport in Afghanistan. The passengers included US citizens, green card holders, journalists, and women at risk.

The Taliban's refusal to let the planes depart was described by US officials as a "'hostage' situation". Rep. Michael McCaul, a Republican from Texas, said that the Taliban was "holding them hostage for demands". He claimed that the Taliban would not allow the planes to depart until their "demands" were met, possibly in the form of "cash or legitimacy as the government of Afghanistan".

Marina LeGree, executive director of Ascend, a non-profit that teaches young Afghan women leadership, confirmed that there were six planes in total but clarified that the travellers were not waiting "physically on board" the aircraft. She stated that, in addition to more than 600 others, there were at least 19 American citizens and two US green card holders among the stranded passengers. LeGree also mentioned that members of non-governmental organizations, journalists, and women at risk were among those stuck at the airport.

The US State Department said that it would hold the Taliban to its pledge to let people travel freely and that it was prepared to help all remaining US citizens, green card holders, and at-risk Afghans who wanted to leave. However, the department also stated that it discourages chartered airplanes because, without personnel on the ground in Afghanistan, it could not properly confirm the planes' passenger manifests.

The situation at Mazar-i-Sharif airport reflected the challenges faced by foreign governments in working with the Taliban, which had yet to form a government at the time. Negotiations to allow the planes to depart involved officials from the Taliban, the United States, and Qatar, but the evacuees remained in limbo as the discussions dragged on.

The Taliban's demands may be in the form of cash or legitimacy as the government of Afghanistan

In August 2021, the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, causing widespread panic and chaos in the country. The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan has resulted in a dire economic situation, with the country's currency plummeting and inflation skyrocketing. The Taliban have also imposed strict restrictions on women, limiting their access to education and employment. The group has been accused of human rights violations, including the suppression of free speech and the persecution of minority groups.

The Taliban's demands of the US and other Western countries may be in the form of cash or legitimacy as the government of Afghanistan. On the one hand, the Taliban are seeking access to the country's central bank reserves, which are currently controlled by the US. They also want to be included in the global financial system and receive economic aid. On the other hand, the Taliban are seeking diplomatic recognition and legitimacy as the country's ruling government. They want to be seen as a legitimate political authority, both domestically and internationally.

The US and its allies have a difficult decision to make regarding the Taliban's demands. Recognizing the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan would entail accepting the group's authority and allowing them to represent the country in international relations. It would also involve providing the Taliban with access to state assets and resources. However, recognizing the Taliban may be perceived as an endorsement of their unconstitutional and repressive rule.

On the other hand, refusing to recognize the Taliban may lead to further economic collapse and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. It could also push the Taliban closer to extremist groups like Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. The US and its allies must carefully consider the potential consequences of their actions and decide whether recognizing the Taliban is in their best interests.

The situation in Afghanistan remains complex and tense, with the Taliban struggling to establish a stable government and address the country's economic and humanitarian crises. The US and other Western countries must navigate a delicate balance between upholding their values and protecting their national interests.

The US State Department has said that it will help all remaining US citizens, green card holders, and at-risk Afghans who want to leave

The State Department has been working around the clock to facilitate the evacuation of Americans, their families, citizens of allied and partner nations, and Afghans who have partnered with the US over the last 20 years. Since August 14th, 2021, more than 82,300 people have been safely flown out of Kabul, with approximately 19,000 people evacuated in a 24-hour period. The US has directly assisted 479 American citizens and 450 lawful permanent residents, in addition to their immediate families, to depart Afghanistan and relocate to the US.

The US government has urged US citizens in Afghanistan who are seeking assistance to leave to email their complete biographic details, contact information, and US passport number to [email protected]. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) can send the same information to [email protected].

The US State Department has also provided resources for Afghans seeking to leave the country, including the Afghan Family Reunification webpage and the Afghan Evac website. Afghans who are eligible for the SIV program but have not yet applied should submit their applications to [email protected].

The US State Department is committed to helping all remaining US citizens and green card holders who want to leave Afghanistan, and will continue to provide consular support and facilitate departures for those who wish to leave.

The Biden administration has been criticised for leaving Americans and Afghan allies behind

The Biden administration has faced criticism for leaving Americans and Afghan allies behind in Afghanistan. In September 2021, it was reported that six planes carrying American citizens were stuck at Mazar-i-Sharif airport, unable to leave due to the Taliban's demands. The Taliban claimed to have taken full control of Afghanistan, leaving the fate of those desperate to leave in their hands.

The Biden administration's handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan has been scrutinized and criticized by both Republicans and Democrats. The administration has been accused of leaving Americans and Afghan allies behind, endangering their lives, and not doing enough to secure the rights of Afghan women. Some critics have called the withdrawal a disaster and a stain on the reputation of the United States. Others have pointed to the thousands of U.S. service members who died over the 20-year war in Afghanistan and the billions of dollars spent, arguing that the withdrawal was necessary to honor their sacrifice and protect America's national interests.

The Biden administration has defended its decision, arguing that the war in Afghanistan was no longer in the service of vital national interests and that the U.S. had achieved its original goal of hunting down Osama bin Laden. President Biden stated that the choice was between leaving or escalating the conflict, and he chose to prioritize the safety of American troops and civilians. He also emphasized the need to focus on counterterrorism efforts and meet emerging threats, such as those posed by China and Russia.

However, critics argue that the Biden administration could have pursued a third option: making the withdrawal conditional on an intra-Afghan peace deal and securing the rights of Afghan women. They argue that the U.S. had a moral obligation to try and achieve a better outcome for Afghans, especially given the enormous costs of the war. The sudden withdrawal left many Americans and Afghan allies stranded and vulnerable to Taliban retaliation.

The situation at Mazar-i-Sharif airport highlighted the challenges of foreign governments working with the Taliban and the desperate situation of those trying to flee Afghanistan. The Biden administration's response to this specific incident has also been criticized, with some arguing that more could have been done to facilitate the safe departure of U.S. citizens and Afghan allies.

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